Couple convicted of insurance fraud

INLSAFinancial difficulties were the reason cited for why Dhanpal Perumal Naidu and Kogie Naidu (pictured) falsely reported their Land Rover stolen to their insurers.

KwaZulu-Natal – A South Coast couple who defrauded an insurance company by falsely reporting their Land Rover stolen from a shopping mall in Chatsworth, south of Durban, were ordered to pay a R10 000 fine each or face six months in jail.

Dhanpal Perumal Naidu, 49, and his wife Antonette Kogie Naidu, 33, pleaded guilty in the Durban Magistrate’s Court to fraud and defeating the ends of justice.

In their guilty plea, handed over by their attorney Noven Naidoo, the couple said that on March 6, 2012, they reported their 2002 Land Rover stolen from Chatsworth Centre.

They had in fact given a spare key to a third party to remove the vehicle.

“I intended claiming for payment from SA Underwriter/ Xavier Reuters in the amount of R75 428. I knew the vehicle was not stolen, but in fact taken by a third person.”

Naidu said that they had resorted to such action because of financial difficulties.

“We could no longer afford motor vehicle instalments.”

Naidu and his wife Kogie admitted that their actions were wrongful, unlawful, and intentional.

They expressed deep remorse.

State Prosecutor Kuveshni Pillay indicated to the court that the couple had the option of selling their vehicle and did not have to resort to such drastic actions.

“Insurance fraud is on the rise and people need to know the seriousness of the matter,” said Pillay.

Naidu, a first time offender, and his wife who has a previous drug conviction in a unrelated matter, paid R5 000 on Monday.

They have until the end of August to pay the remaining R15 000. – POST